This week, immigration advocates with TexasRITA and other groups in Corpus Christi rallied at Rep. Blake Farenthold’s (R-TX) office to deliver 10,000 petitions in favor of immigration reform and citizenship. Things got ugly, however, when Farenthold’s campaign decided to call in some of his own supporters, which showed up to harass, intimidate, and shout down the advocates and their families.
It’s unclear why Farenthold felt the need to call in a hostile cavalry when the immigration advocates–some of whom had brought young children–were just coming to peacefully deliver petitions. But the event quickly became chaotic when Farenthold’s supporters starting slinging slurs:
@americasvoice One #Tcot person said she was against Immigration reform because “Mexicans bring diseases with them.”
— Christian Ucles (@daakardior) August 7, 2013
@americasvoice another person would ask Immigration reform activist as they passed by (that were brown-skinned) if they were illegal.
— Christian Ucles (@daakardior) August 7, 2013
@americasvoice Yet never bothered to ask me (I’m white skinned) & I’m the one that actually was undocumented for 8 years! #SkinColor #TX27
— Christian Ucles (@daakardior) August 7, 2013
You can also watch the video below to see how angry and out-of-control the event became. Farenthold’s supporters can be seen and heard shouting over the DREAMer speaking, Miguel Porfirio. At one point, a woman likens immigrants crossing the border to terrorists. When the immigration advocates start chanting for the crowd to let Miguel speak, Farenthold’s supporters scream back, over and over, “No!”
Related content:
- Photos: Immigration Reform Advocates Deliver 10k Petitions to Rep. Farenthold; Farenthold Gives Supporters Free Lunch to Stand Against Families
- Press statement: DREAMers and Immigration Advocates React to Extremist Response to Petition Delivery at Congressman Farenthold’s Corpus Christi Office
